Display cabinet



Oct. 24, 1944.

T. V. ATKINS DISPLAY- CABINET Filed March 8. 1941 Patented Oct. 24, 1944 U N-lTJED [STATES PATENTS" or F1 cs tmsfifiiiii v Thomas VLAtkiris, Burlington, Mass, assignorto 1 Harvey G. Wheeler, Brookline, Mass.

' Al plicationMarch8,1941, Serial No. 382,463-

2 Claims. (01.40-126) This invention relates to a display cabinet for pop corn and the like.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means to continually receive pop corn as it falls and that will regularly tend to feed it towards the mouth of the blower which in turn blows it upwardly again, thus continuing the performance indefinitely.

I am aware that others have provided display devices that blow pop corn upwardly more or less continually; but there are sometimes involuntary interruptions to this movement because the device is not constructed to assure a steady, non-congested, return movement of the pop corn to the mouth of the blower pipe. Accordingly it has been my 'main object to provide a construction, in conjunction with a blower, that is so certain in operation that pop corn is continually'blown upwardly, four hours at a time, without any interruptions.

A further object is to so construct my cabinet that it is economical to manufacture and made of parts that can be produced and assembled rapidly, and which give the finished cabinet a symmetrical appearance.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and relative arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawing and specification. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to said disclosure; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope cabinet with the motor, blower and funnel mem,

ber shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of my cabinet, partly broken away, and with the door to the storage compartment open. I

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, broken away at the top and bottom, showing details of construction of my cabinet.

As illustrated, my cabinet consists of an upper transparent display compartment encased in glass l6 and reinforced at four corners by vertical angle bar supports II that extend to the bottom of my cabinet. A roof I2 covers the top of my cabinet. There is a solid front l4 that extends up to said glass casing In, a corresponding solid left side IS, a solid right side [6 and a back the storage space providedinthe lower portion of my cabinet. Dividing saidstorage space 26 is a shelf 2|, while another shelf 22 is provided to support a motor M and a blower 24. Said motor M has the usual air screen23.

Said motor M is of any standard type as well as said blower 24, the latter having an upwardly extending blower pipe the mouth of which communicates with an opening in the center of a funnel member 26. Said blower 24 is operated by said motor M to continuously discharge air under pressure through said blower pipe 25 and thus blow pop corn upwardly in the space enclosed by said glass casing l0 where it is visible. A light ball B, such as a Celluloid ball, as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figure 1 of the drawing may also be suspended in the air by the force of the discharging air to enhance 1 the beauty of the pop corn display. Said funnel portion 11. A back door l8 permits entrance to member 26 is preferably made of linoleum, fibrous or other non-metallic material so that the pop corn dropping thereupon will not make an unpleasant or too much noise.

In order to keep the pop corn, after it drops, steadily moving downwardly towards the opening in the funnel member 26 the blower pipe aperture joins it, the upper surface of said funnel member 26 on which the pop corn slides, slants downwardly at an acute angle to a horizontal plane, preferably at substantially 23 degrees. In actual practice I have found that this angle may vary between 19 and 27 degrees from horizontal and get good results, that is, and still have the pop corn move towards said blower pipe aperture in a desired quantity, where it is blown upwardly again. If this angle is not correct, then the pop corn will not provide the continuous display of popcorn in the air blowing all about the glass enclosed space, because it must ever be moving towards said aperture so as to feed it steadily in moderate amounts and not crowd down there I in too great volume.

The outside edge of said funnel member 26 is spaced from the walls of said glass casing l6 so as to permit pop corn to drop below said funnel member 26 onto a shelf 2'! that extends across the K i thereby adding some mystery to the cause of the pop corn continuously blowing about.

The cabinet is mounted on casters 30 to faciliof said funnel member being spaced from said said opening at an angle of between 19 and 27 degrees to a horizontal plane.

2. A display cabinet comprising a casing enclosing a display compartment in the upper portion of said cabinet in which pop corn or other articles may be blown about, a funnel member extending into said compartment having an opening in the center thereof, the outside edge of said funnel member being spaced from said casing whereby pop corn may drop through said space, a shelf in said cabinet directly below said space, supporting members for said funnel member sup- 7 ported by said shelf, and means in said cabinet casing whereby pop corn may drop through said space, a shelf in said cabinet directly below said space, supporting members forsaid funnel. membelow said compartment to forcefully discharge air through said opening embodying a conduit extending through said shelf and in communicaber supported by said shelf, and means in said cabinet below said compartment to'forcefully discharge air through said opening embodying a conduit in communication with said openingthe uppersurtace of aid iunneLmemher. slanting in,- v ardly and downwardly from said space. towards tion with said opening, the upper surface of said funnel member slanting inwardly and downwardly from said space towards said opening at an angle of substantially 23 degrees to a horizontal plana.

" THOMASJVI ATKINS. 

